Cover image courtesy of Inglis
Inglis’ first sale of the year has long been a go-to destination for buyers seeking value, but for Team Waterhouse/Bott, it has been more than just a bargain hunt - it’s been a proven pipeline for top-class talent.
This year, three graduates from their 2024 group of purchases will line up in the feature juvenile race at Royal Randwick on Saturday, further cementing the sale’s reputation as a launchpad for future stars.
Ahead of Royal Randwick’s first million dollar race for the year on Saturday (with 46 in NSW left to come), The Thoroughbred Report chatted to Adrian Bott about the three chances his stable have in the feature event.
Three 'very good chances'
The first of these is Crown The King who was a $70,000 purchase by Darby Racing from the draft of Glenbeigh Farm. The son of Time To Reign has impressed the team from the start.
Bott commented, “He showed plenty early on, he looked really good in the early trials.”
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“He was a bit unlucky on debut in Queensland, he ran on very strongly. He’s now had a run, has that race experience and has come back much better physically.”
“His two trials have been good, he only trialled on Monday in what looked a very hot trial behind North England at Rosehill, so he has to deal with a short turn around.”
“He can put himself in the race and if he can put it all together can be more than competitive.”
Crown The King ran a solid second at Doomben behind Betterlucknexttime (Zousain) on debut where he attacked the line well from well back in the field. That form looks solid as Betterlucknexttime went on to win again at Doomben and he does look a genuine black-type quality horse.
Cobra Club, a promising son of Cool Aza Beel (NZ), is another runner that will be wearing the Darby Racing colours in the big race at Randwick.
Cool Aza Beel has made a tidy start to his stud career, his oldest are only 2-year-olds and from only five runners he has sired Cool Aza Rene (NZ) who has been a two-time winner in New Zealand and two stakes-performers in the afforementioned Cobra Club and Cool Archie.
He was also a $70,000 purchase this time from the draft of Newhaven Park, and Bott was excited about him, saying “He has freshened up really nicely since the Nursery. He ran a great race from a really bad draw that day and he went super."
The winner of the Nursery that day was Within The Law (Lucky Vega {Ire}) and she was a previous winner of the R. Listed Inglis Banner 2YO Stakes. Cobra Club did a great job to run within 0.34l of her off a wide trip.
“He has had a lovely freshen-up, a nice trial win at Hawkesbury and is a tough horse, he will run well.”
The final runner is the promising Zousain filly, Bellazaine purchased by Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott/Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Widden Stud for $160,000.
“Hopefully she gets a run, she is a lovely filly, she drew really bad in the Gimcrack but run boldly considering.”
“She has come back well and her trials have been excellent, she will be first up but she is a filly we will see a lot more of, she has a good future and is a lovely type.”
“She (Bellazaine) has come back well and her trials have been excellent, she will be first up but she is a filly we will see a lot more of, she has a good future and is a lovely type.” - Adrian Bott
Bellazaine had to work pretty hard from a very wide gate in the G3 Gimcrack Stakes and ran with merit when placing seventh. Bellazaine does have a very current pedigree as her dam Benella (Not A Single Doubt) is a three-quarter sister to Widden Stud Victoria's promising sire Doubtland and the talented sprinter Villa Verde (Not A Single Doubt). Villa Verde has recently left My Gladiola (I Am Invincible) who was victorious in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (f) on debut and looks a leading chance in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (f) this weekend.
Sales are a great opportunity and 'I'm looking forward to it'
When asked on what he thought the market was going to be ahead of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Bott was confident on his chances to pick up some nice horses.
“It is likely to be a buyers market," he said.
"It has been a great to sale for us, we are selective here and play it a certain way, but it has been and is a very good sale. I’m really looking forward to it."
Bott’s point is perfectly illustrated by this weekend’s Inglis Millennium, open to all Inglis graduates, yet this year, all three Waterhouse/Bott runners hail specifically from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Gallery: Waterhouse and Bott runners in the R. Listed Inglis Millennium, all sourced from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, images courtesy of Inglis
Together, they were secured for a combined $300,000 - averaging just $100,000 each - proving that genuine value exists. For owners and trainers, it’s a reminder that quality horses can be sourced without breaking the bank, offering a real shot at big-race success from the outset.
There have been 21 Group 1-winning graduates of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale since 2018 and a total of 30 Classic sale graduates have won $1 million or more in prizemoney in Australia since 2018.
Bott went on to mention that, “North England was a graduate of this sale and he clearly is one of our leading hopes in any of the 2-year-old features this year. You can get a very good horse out of this sale.”
North England cleared away in the Golden Gift in November 2024 | Image courtesy of Sportpix
North England (Farnan) was a $280,000 purchase by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock, and Go Bloodstock from the Valiant Stud draft. He has already proven his class, running a strong and narrow third to King Kirk (Ole Kirk) in the G3 Breeders’ Plate before an impressive victory in the Golden Gift on November 9.
With two sharp trial wins at Hawkesbury and Rosehill under his belt, he looks primed for a big campaign ahead and could well be the next feature race winner to emerge from this sale.
